This is a 1906 Model Manufactured by DWM (Deutsche
Waffen und Munitions Fabriken) in Berlin
in 9mm for the Portuguese navy. The original contract was for
the Crown over anchor and 50% of that order was delivered before the
abdication of Manuel II (Oct 1910) and DWM to change the head stamp to the R.P. for
the Republic of Portugal. A very difficult Luger for the collector
to obtain, almost are rare as the Russian. (1727)

The Portuguese were among the most important early supports
of the Parabellum. Receiving some test pieces of the 1900 model and a very
few Marked with the Crown Carlos 1st the Portuguese conducted
tests in 1903 and 1904. After the murder of King Carlos 1st in
1908 Manuel II took the throne and in 1910 DWM Delivered the Portuguese
Army know as the “Army” model.

This Luger has the
100mm (4") barrel on the 1906 squeeze grip safety frame. Walnut
grips with no stock lug, the serial
number placement is in the commercial ("hidden") style. The extractor is
marked "Carregada". This Luger has all matching numbers.

The purchase
of ‘Army’ Parabellums encouraged the Portuguese navy to follow suit.
However,
like the German Navy they ordered the 9mm caliber and 100mm barrels. While
Portugal was not a naval power a contract
for only 1,000 Lugers was placed with DWM late in 1909.

The Top of the Portuguese Navy Pistole show the R.P. over the anchor
which began with serial number 351 to 650. No numbers on the extractor
or the top of the first toggle. These are hard to find collector pieces
as one of 299 pieces that might have survived.

The serial number puts the gun
at the end of production run (650) and the magazine is marked with the
Cal 9mm which again is unique to this variation.

The right side doesn't have any proof. There was a Portuguese inspection
located in Berlin before the October 1910 revolution who marked the left
side of the receiver with an MP (Marinha Portuguesa) with a 2.2mm high
proof. For the 2nd batch that began in 1912 some were marked with a 3mm
MP and for some reason are not found on all examples. It may have been
that the inspector was not present for the early and late gun batches
because evidence supports the first 100 models were unmarked. See
Kenyon, Lugers at Random P136

The first 'Pistola Luger-Parabellum da
Marinha Portuguêsa was delivered early in 1910 with only about 800
delivered by October 5th, 1910. On that date the revolution put the King
to flight causing DWM to hastily change the style of the cartouche and
they then delivered approximately 200 of the so-called 'Republican Model',
in which R.P. (Republica Portuguesa), replaced the crown in the original
crown-and-anchor chamber mark. This places the premium on the
Republic of Portugal Models.

The Luger has the long sear and nitrate
pins, the grip safety has the last two digits of the serial number.
The grips are also numbered to the gun. it is a clean gun with
minor pitting on front grip strap under the grips; a common occurrence
when the grips are not periodically removed for cleaning and waxing
under the wood.

Looking up you can see how all the small parts are
matched to the gun with the last two digits of the serial number.
Above Right: you can see the toggle fully extended with the Crown U
shown on the breach block. On can also see the straight back of the
frame by the rear main axel pin indicating it was a DWM made frame cut
for the grip safety.

Michael Reese states in his
book that 287 is a known gun in the Portuguese Royal Navy group.
Walker in The Luger Book states the highest known 'Royal' is
769 and the 'Republic' is 993. This makes the 800/200 delivery theory
plausible; except for this gun.

This is a remarkable complete, all
matching example of the Republic of Portuguese Navy contract, one of the
650 guns shipped from a 1,000 gun contract. This Luger is an all matching
P08 and of a remaining group of 299 Parabellums after the abdication
of Manuel II. Just a
fantastic find in excellent condition.
Any questions to
josef@phoenixinvestmentarms.com.